HOK recognized by AIA California for statewide contributions to design and innovation over the past 50 years.
The American Institute of Architects California has honored HOK with the 2019 Firm Award, the highest honor it can bestow on an architectural firm. AIACA recognized the firm’s culture of investing in emerging designers, creating an attitude of service and community outreach through volunteering, and fostering diversity and inclusion.
While HOK’s origins trace back to its founding in St. Louis, the firm is deeply rooted in California, where it has designed significant projects across the state. In 1966, HOK opened its San Francisco studio as its first outpost outside of St. Louis. In 1983, HOK opened a studio in Los Angeles to better serve the Southern California market.
Recent community-focused projects include the Bayview Gateway Project, an initiative to craft a vision, master plan and design guidelines for open space in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood. For the new Guerrero Park, HOK’s team is helping to update a plaza in San Francisco’s Mission District with a design that will address a dangerous intersection and provide the community with a public space for gathering and recreation.
HOK contributes time and resources to California communities both through HOK IMPACT, a firmwide approach to corporate social responsibility, and through various grassroots initiatives. The firm is designing, with Autodesk, short-term shelters and a device for telephone, wireless and emergency power for disaster relief.
“HOK has a rich history in California,” said Paul Woolford, design principal, “and we’re all honored to continue the tradition of designing projects that enrich the places where we live and work. We’re especially proud that the AIA’s recognition is a testament not just to our design achievements and great clients, but to our commitment to supporting the architectural community throughout the state.”